Homicide Rate Lowest In 45 Years

A recently released report says that in 2010, areas patrolled by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department had the fewest homicides since 1972 and the lowest homicide rate since 1965. Overall 2010 crime declined over 2% compared to 2009, and down 18% in past 5 years.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Crime Statistics 1960-2010 offers more than 100 pages of details showing preliminary reported crime statistics for the 42 contract cities and 130 unincorporated communities at www.lasd.org. Visit the “Crime Prevention and Information” page or access them directly at http://file.lacounty.gov/lasd/cms1_148405.pdf (To review the statistics, open the file, right click with your computer mouse and use the search engine.)

These preliminary 2010 reported crime statistics are compared to 2009 and to five years ago (2005). Reported crimes for each sheriff’s station and city include homicides, robberies, burglaries, and more.

Preliminary reported crime data for 2010 shows that criminal homicides in sheriff’s patrol areas have decreased by 15.94 percent, compared to the same year-to-date period last year (207 homicides in 2009 compared to 175 in 2010). This follows a five-year continuous decrease, resulting in a 53.23 percent decrease in homicides in 2010 compared to five years ago, and the lowest number of homicides in sheriff’s patrol areas since 1972 (see more information on 1960-2010 homicides below). Allowing for population changes, 2010 had the lowest homicide rate since 1965.

Most notable, were decreases in homicides in the Compton Station area (including the city of Compton and nearby unincorporated areas) and Century Station area (which includes the city of Lynwood and nearby unincorporated areas). Compton Station homicides have reduced by 38.15 percent in one year, with 42 homicides in 2009 compared to 26 in 2010. 2010 Compton Station homicides were 67.2 percent less than five years ago. Century Station had 33 homicides during 2009, as compared to 26 homicides in 2010, for a 21.12 percent one year decrease. Century Station’s 2010 homicides were 72.6 percent less than five years ago.

Violent crime in 2010 declined 2.02 percent, and serious property crimes reported (Part I) have declined by 2.81 percent in Sheriff’s patrol areas countywide, compared to 2009. These numbers combine to show a 2.65 percent decrease in overall Part I crimes. Sheriff’s stations experiencing the most significant decreases in overall violent crimes (Part I) over the same period last year included Malibu/Lost Hills Station at 24.8 percent, Walnut Station at 23.8 percent, Marina del Rey Station at 20.4 percent, Industry Station at 20.2 percent and Altadena Station at 20 percent. Overall violent crime in the past 5 years (comparing 2010 to 2005) has declined 16.16 percent, and serious property crimes reported (Part I) have declined by 18.89 percent in Sheriff’s patrol areas countywide in the past five years. These numbers combine to show an 18.35 percent decrease in overall Part I crimes compared to five years ago.

“Thanks to the trust of the public, community partnerships, and the brave and dedicated efforts of the sheriff’s deputies and professional staff of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, we have seen historic lows in crime, said Sheriff Lee Baca. “Our strategy of Suppression, Prevention, Intervention, and Technology continue to make a positive impact on the lives of the people of this county, yet we know there is more to be done. We will continue to dedicate ourselves to the mission of public safety.”

Over 100 pages of details showing reported crime statistics for the patrol areas of the unincorporated communities and 42 contract cities policed by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (including preliminary 2010), can be found at www.lasd.org Visit the “Crime Prevention and Information” page or access them directly at http://file.lacounty.gov/lasd/cms1_148405.pdf

The below chart reflects the number of homicides in the total jurisdiction of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, for 50 years starting with 1960. 2010 is preliminary. The homicide ratio was calculated using the population increases for each year’s homicides. See the footnote at the bottom of the chart for more details.

These numbers do not reflect the tragedies and descriptions of the circumstances of each homicide.

Note: Total homicides since 1960 in communities policed by the LASD:

473 homicides in 1995 – the highest number of homicides since 1960 197 homicides in 1973 – the last year before 2010 that there were less than 200 homicides 146 homicides in 1972 – the lowest number of homicides in the last 38 years 1965 – the last year before 2010 that the homicide ratio (allowing for population) was lower

Note: If a person is injured in one year and dies the next year, it affects which year the numbers are posted. Variations in population coverage and reporting practices may cause differences in reporting from year to year.

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